PHOTO COURTESY CASH CHRISTIE
Medicine Hat Tigers goaltender prospect Cash Christie suited up in one game for Canada White at the 2025 U17 Hockey Challenge in Truro, N.S. Christie made 15 saves in a 9-5 win over Sweden on Nov. 2.
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The Medicine Hat Tigers’ youngest goaltender has added some international experience to his resume.
Prospect net minder Cash Christie returned from the U17 Hockey Challenge with a silver medal after his Team Canada White lost 6-3 in the tournament Nov. 8 to Team Canada Red. The 16-year-old says the experience was a special one, even though they lost in the final.
“It was a great group of guys, we all gelled really well,” Christie said Tuesday. “We had some adversity to start, but I feel like as a team, we did really good. Silver isn’t what we wanted, but at least we came home with something.”
The North Vancouver product suited up in one game in the tournament, making 15 saves in a 9-5 win over Sweden on Nov. 2. He looked forward to the matchup but also feels motivated by the fact he only got the one shot in the net.
“Sweden’s a skilled team, they have lots of firepower, so I was just approaching it like any other game but it was super fun, a good experience,” Christie said.
“I would have liked to have a bit of a better tournament and maybe a few more games, but I just have to keep working and look forward to the future.”
He enjoyed his first time in Nova Scotia, getting to see Halifax on a day trip. Christie says the sights reminded him of home. Getting the chance to don the Maple Leaf, that brought emotions he wasn’t prepared for.
“It’s pretty cool putting on the jersey for the first time, you dream of that as a kid,” Christie said. “It’s definitely one of the coolest feelings I’ve ever had.”
He skated with the Tigers on Tuesday for the first time since representing Canada. He’s spent all of his season down the road at the Big Marble Go Centre with the South Alberta Hockey Academy’s U18 men’s team. It’s his second year at the U18 level, suiting up with St. George’s School last year.
He’s had a strong start to the year, with a 2.43 goals against average and a .926 save percentage in four games with SAHA, with a perfect 3-0 record. His goals against average ranks ninth and his save percentage 11th among U18 goalies.
Christie says getting a second look at the U18 level has made the start of the season easier.
“Obviously I’m familiar with the league from last year, so coming back, I have lots of confidence and I know what I’m doing,” Christie said. “The group of guys is unbelievable and I think we’re doing pretty good so far, but we still have lots of season ahead of us.”
Over the last 12 months Christie says he’s seen his game IQ improve, getting better at reading plays and slowing things down in front of him. He’s liked the early returns from his summer of work but he’s always looking for the next step.
“Obviously all my skills I’ve worked on pretty hard throughout the summer and last season, but still, there’s so much I can improve on.”
Tigers in Calgary
A pair of two-goal efforts propelled the Tigers in Calgary on Wednesday.
Kadon McCann and Markus Ruck tallied a pair of goals as they beat the Hitmen 6-2.
Kade Stengrim (4) opened the scoring and Josh Van Mulligen notched his first of the year.
McCann tallied his fifth and sixth and Ruck reached the five-goal mark. Jonas Woo extended his point streak to seven games with an assist.
Goaltender Carter Casey made 26 saves in the win, his foruth of the season.
